Article handling apparatus



Jan. 29, 1952.- w. w; PRICKETT ARTICLE HANDLING APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 15, 1949 Wi/ber W. Pn'c/refl Q and Jan. 29, 1952 w. w. PRICKETT 2,583,707

ARTICLE HANDLING APPARATUS Filed July 15, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 /40 Inventor WIT/her W. PrickeW |l| //A 1%, W P il B 1952. w. w. PRICKETT ARTICLE HANDLING APPARATUS 5 Shasta-Sheet 5 Filed July 15, 1949 mm llhl Inventor Wi/ber W. Pricketr Jan. 29, 1952.- w. w. PRICKETT ARTICLE HANDLING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 15, 1949 Fig. 4.

Fig. 5.

Inventor W/lb er W. Prickerf Jan. 29, 1952. w. w. PRICKETT ARTICLE HANDLING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 15, 1949 I38 I40 I40 I58 w m m m 0O 0 4 u 5 I w 5 a .0 .H q 0 8 l z a 5 I II I- a 2 l M Q. i E l In vmtvr Wi/ber W. Prl'ckeff Patented Jan. 29, 1952 UNI TED STATES F liC r ARTICLE HANDLING APPABATUS,

Wilber W. Prickett, San Diego, Galifl; assignonto High Seas Tuna, Racking: Gm, Inc., SanDiego, Galifi, alcorporatiomof California 1 Application July 15, 1949, Serial No. 104,8 l8

This invention relates to'new and useful immovements in article handling apparatus and more particularly to a can-positioning and feeding machine;

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a can positioning andfeeding machine including-a noveland improved shaker mechanism whereby cans may be placed, in a substantially horizontal position, upon a conveyor'prior tothe filling andlabeling of the cans.

Another veryimportant object of the present invention is to provide a shaker mechanism for canpositioning and feeding machines consisting of "a reciprocating shakermember disposed within a hopper and a pair of swingable can agitator platesthat are actuated during reciprocatory movement of the shaker member to prevent the bunching up of cans acted upon by the shaker member;

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a can positioning and feeding machine includingguid'e chutes, a conveyor for conducting cans toward theguide-chutes,- a meansfor lifting cans from the conveyor and'a means for directingcans-intothe' guide chutes after the can have been lifted from the conveyor;

A- further object of the present inventionis the provision of" acan positioning and feeding machine consisting of a hopper, a pair of downwardly andinwardly inclined sliding members disposed within the hopperand spaced to permit a can to it pass therebetween. and slidable and adjustable plates supported on one of the members for varying the spacebetween the members.v

A still further aim oft-the present invention is to provide a.-can positioning andfeeding machine that issrnall and eompactinstructure, strong and durable in use, efficient and reliable in operation, simple andi practical inconstruction, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adaptedfor the purposesfor which thesame is intended:

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of constructionandoperationas morefully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 111s aside elevationalview of the present invention set up for feeding can horizontally;

Figure 2 is a transverse, vertical sectional view taken substantially on theplane of section line 2-2 of Figure l;

Figureais atop plane view ofwFigure l;

transversewverticalisec- 1 1-0 Claims. (01. 198'--30)- tional view taken substantially-on the' plane of sectionline 4' l ofFigtireB:

Figure 5 is areduced vertical sectional view" taken substantiallypn the'plane of section line Figure' 6-" i an enlarged fragmentaryside' elevational v-iew of the-present invention and sh0W-- ing theguide attachment-applied*thereto;

Figure l is-a topplan view' ofiigurefi and-witlipar-tsof theshaker-cushioningpadsbroken away;

Figure 8" an enlarged vertical sectional view/ taken substantially onthe plane or section line- 8-8 of Figure 7*,

Figure 9 is anenlargedtransversevertical sectionalview of the conveyor chairrused ina corejunction with-thepresentinvention and showing oneof the'low-link-brackets;

Figure 10 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view of t-hemonveyor chain used in con junction withthe presentinvention andshowing tional lviewshowingthe manner-in-Wh-ich the cansare liftedfrom the chain conveyor and directed toward the guide chutes; andwith parts-of one" can broken away for the convenience of ext-planer tion.

Referring nowto=thedrawings-indetail; wherein forthe purpose of illustration; there is disclosed; a preferred embodiment of the present invention-,- thenumerals [0, I2 and M represent the lifting conveyor; theshakingmechanism; and. the-guideattachment thatare used intconj unction with the presentinventiona hak a i m,

The shaker mechanism I2 includes a supperting frame or framework I 6, preferably of channeliron or angle-iro'n-construction; Theframe l6=isprovided with apair of elongated side channel members l8- that receive -the side'edges of a substantially -rectangular platform- 20. Upperand lower, pairs-of ears Z2 and fl project laterally from the side channel members Itand receivethreaded rods orsupporting posts iii-having bearing pads or feet 2 8 at. their lower ends.

faces of the plates '12.

Upper and lower pairs of lock nuts 38- and 32 are threaded on each of the supporting posts 26 and bear against the lower faces of the ears 22 and the upper faces of the ears 24, respectively, to retain the posts 26 adjusted perpendicular to the side channel members I8 and the platform elevated.

A shaker hopper is supported upon the frame I6 and more particularly arms 34 rising from the frame I6. The arms 34 are secured by welding or the like to the spaced parallel side walls 36 of the shaker hopper. The shaker hopper includes, in addition to the side walls 36, a pair of downwardly and inwardly inclined end walls 38.

The side walls 36 are provided at their central portions with inverted substantially V-shaped openings 48 that receive an inverted substantially V-shaped sliding or reciprocating member 42 having downwardly diverging leg portions to the inner faces of which there is secured ears 44 supporting parallel bars 46.

Inverted V-shaped end supports 48 rise from the frame I6 and are received within the openlugs 48. The leg portions of the end supports 48 carry guide sleeves or bearings 58 that slidably receive the bars 46. Slidable and adjustable plates 52 rest upon the outer surfaces of the leg portions of the V-shaped member 42 and are provided with transverse slots 54 that receive bolts 56.v The bolts 56 extend through the leg portions of the V-shapedmember 42 and receivably enga e nuts 58 for adjustment of plates 52 laterally of the V-shaped member 42.

Longitudinally spaced ribs 68 are pressed upwardly from the plates 52 andhave a function that will later be more fully described.

A flexible, resilient, cushioning pad 62 overlies the plates 52 and is secured to the member 42 by rivets or fasteners 64 whereas the bolts 56 are employed for securing the pad 62 to the plates 52. The lower edges of the pad 62 terminate adjacent and above the ribs 68 so as not to obstruct the. ribs 68 from contacting cans placed in the shaker hopper.

Sliding end plates or shaker plates 66 underlie the end walls 38 and are provided with transverse slots 68 that receive fasteners 18. The fasteners I8 slidably and adjustably secure bearing plates I2 to the upper and inner surfaces of the shaker plates 66. These fasteners (18) also secure resilient cushioning pads I4 to the outer Longitudinally spaced ribs I6 are pressed upwardly from the plates 12 and are spaced below the lower edges of the pads I4.

Ears I8 are fixed to and project laterally from the outer faces of the shaker plates 66 and support parallel guide rods or bars 88 that are slidably received in guide sleeves or bearings 82 mounted on the arms 34. Although the shaker plates 66 are disposed beneath the end walls 38, the. same slope downwardly and inwardly f the end plates to expose a large portion of the pads I4 and the plates I2.

Arms 84 depend from the shaker plates 66 and are pivotally connected to the rear ends of pusher links 86. The forward ends of the pusher links are pivoted to links68 projecting laterally from the ends of a driven shaft 98. The shaft 98 is journaled in bearings 92 mounted on the forward portion of the frame I6 and the central portion of the shaft 98 supports a pair of laterally projecting cars 94 that are disposed on a diametrically opposite sideof the shaft 98 from the links Further arms 96 depend from the member 42 a and are secured to the ears 94 by a pitman 96 so that during rotation of the shaft 98 and as the shaker plates 66 move forwardly, the member 42 will move rearwardly, and, as the member 42 moves forwardly the shaker plates 66 will move rearwardly to accomplish the desired shaking action of cans placed in the shaker hopper.

Agitating means is associated with the shaker hopper and this means consists of a pair of swinging members or plates I88. Pivot rods I82 are fixed to the swinging members I88 and the ends of the pivot rods I82 are journaled in opening provided in the end walls 38 of the shaker hopper. The central portions of the plates I88 are provided with central V-shaped recesses or notches I84 to receive and permit sliding movement of the member 42. Contact plates I86 depend from the swinging members I88 and extend downwardly through the space between the shaker plates and the member 42. (See Figure 4.)

Pairs of vertically disposed, spaced parallel guide plates I88 are mounted on the frame I6 and the contact plates I86 are received between the pairs of guide plates. 7

Means is provided for imparting a swinging movement to the members I88 alternately. This means comprises a pair of substantially U-shaped actuating members II8. One leg of one of the members H8 is secured to one end of the sliding member 42 and one end of the other actuating member III] is secured to the other end of the member 42. The unattached legs of the members H8 are slidably received in openings II2 provided in the side walls of the shaker hopperso that as the member 42 moves in one direction one of the members I88 will pivot or swing and: as the member 42 moves in an opposite direction' the other of the members I88 will pivot orswing,

Lifting conveyor 7 The lifting conveyor I8 is supported upon the on the shafts H6 and H8 and spaced parallel cleats I22 are terminally secured to the chains H9 for supporting and lifting cans. II9 are guided in suitable channels on the side portions H4 and the cleats I22 ride uponan upwardly inclined support wall I28.

A downwardly and rearwardly inclined troug or guide panel I24 is supported on the upper ends of the side portions H4 and extends over the shaker hopper sothat as cans are lifted by the cleats I22 and chains I I 9, the cans will gravitate down the guide panel I24 to enter the: shaker hopper.

A main hopper or dump bin I26 is supported on the lower ends of the side portions I I4 and its rear is open so that cans placed on thedownwardly and rearwardly-inclined bottom wall I28 of the hopper I26 will slide against the cleats I22 to be lifted by the chains I I9 and the cleats I22.

Conveyor fiovcans leaving the shaker mechanism Forward and rear pairs of horizontally disposed shafts I38 and I32 are journaled in suitable bearings, such as I34, mounted on the frame I6. The shafts I38 and I32 carry sprockets I 36 I38 are trained over the and endless chains sprockets I36. The upper fiightsof the chains I38. are received. betweenthe pairs o1'=-plates1-,I88.

Endless The chains squa ron cans delivered by the chains I38 into -two piles,

one of the beanis Mzlextends rearwardly past the other beam I 42, as shown in Figure 6, the longer of the two. beamsibeing designated by the numeral I54.

Guide attachment A guide, attachment I8. is associated with each of the endless conveyor belts or chains I38. These guide attachments include arcuate guide chutes of bendable rods I56 that are arranged to turn cans from their horizontal position on the conveyor chains I38 to a vertical position.

The above described guide attachment is described fully in the patent to A, H. Nelson, numbered, 1,886,896 issued November 8, 1932., How ever the instant structure anticipates additional elements, namely, twisted rods I58 and I60 upon which the cans will be lifted and pairs of magnets I62 and IE4 that are adjustable upon support rods I86 mounted on the attachments l4.

The magnets I82 and IE4 are so arranged as to attract the bottom walls of the cans after the cans have been raised upon the rods I58 and I80 whereupon the cans will pass into the twisted portion of a selected guide unit to slide downwardly until the bottom walls of the cans rest upon a suitable support or conveyor.

B08067 means In order to drive the conveyor belt I20, reciprocate the shaker plates 66 and shaker member 42, and drive the conveyor chains I38, there is provided a power means I88 including a motor I10. The motor I10 includes a drive shaft that is secured to a first driven shaft I12 through gears (not shown) mounted in a gear housing I14.

A first driving connection I16 extends between the shaft 90 and the shaft I 12 and a second driv ing connection I18 is provided between the shaft I12 and the shaft I30. 7

The shaft H6 is connected to a shaft I80, driven by the shaft I12, by a drive connection I82. Any suitable brake means or clutch means is associated with the power means so that the chains II9 can be prevented from rotating or whereby the various parts can be operated individually or collectively.

It should be noted, that the rounded tops of the low links is to cause the cans (while riding in vertical position) to be more easily overbalanced than would prevail if the cans were riding on flat links. The high links are spaced wide enough apart to keep the rims of the cans from interlocking with each other and thereby causing the cans to drag the adjoining cans the wrong way.

The magnets are placed at the exit of members I08 so that as soon as a can enters the exit the can is drawn off balance by the magnets and the can will continue toride the lug or link chain I38 until the can comes in contact with members I58 and I60 which will lift the edge of the can from contact with the chain I38, and the can will slide down the chute, open end up. The

humps inuthe barsI58 and I80 help toseta can; right sidev up as. the can following pushes: it

down, the slide.

Having described the claimed asnew is:

. 1. In a can positioning and feeding machine invention, what is aacan shaking. and agitating mechanism, said can;

shaking andagitatingmechanism comprising a shaker hopper having; a pair of slidable end Walls,

; said end walls inclining downwardly and inwardly, an inverted V-shaped member interposed between said end walls and having downwardly inclined legportions sloping toward the respective end walls, means for reciprocatingthe end. walls and the V-shaped member, and swingable agitating members mounted in the hopper-and actuated during sliding movement of the V-shaped member.

2. In a can positioning and feeding machine,

20. a can shaking mechanism, said mechanism co-mprising a -su pporting frame, a shaker hopper 25. inverted substantially v-shaped openings therein, a V'-shaped member slidably received in said openings, a pair of slidable plates underlying said end walls and extending below the end walls and toward the V-shaped member, the plates being spaced from the V-shaped member to provide can receiving spaces, a common means for reciprocating the plates and the V-shaped member, and agitating means disposed within the hopper and actuated by the V-shaped memher.

3. In a can positioning and feeding machine, a can shaking mechanism, said mechanism comprising a supporting frame, a hopper mounted on the frame and including a pair of side walls and a pair of downwardly and inwardly inclined end walls, said side walls having inverted substantially V-shaped openings therein, a V-shaped member slidablyreceived in said openings, 9. pair of slidable plates underlying said end walls and extending below the end' walls and toward the V-shaped member, the plates being spaced from the V-shaped member to provide can receiving spaces, a common means for reciprocating the plates and the V-shaped member, a pair of swing- 0 ing members mounted in said hopper and pivotally supported on the end walls, and means carried by the v-shaped member and slidably supported on the side walls for engaging and imparting a swinging movement to the swinging members duringreciprocatory movement of said V- shaped member.

4. The combination of claim 3 and cushioning pads of resilient material secured to the V-shaped member.

5. The combination of claim 3 and adjusting plates slidably and adjustably secured to the V-shaped member for adjusting the can receiving spaces to a predetermined area.

6. A shaking mechanism for cans comprising 65 a, shaker hopper including a pair of slidable end walls, an inverted V-shaped member mounted in said hopper for reciprocation, means connected to the end Walls and the V-shaped member for imparting sliding movement thereo, and means 'swingab1y mounted in said hopper and actuated by said member for agitating cans placed in the hopper.

7. A shaking mechanism for cans comprising a shaker hopper including a pair of slidable end 75 walls, an inverted v-shaped member mounted in said hopper for reciprocation, means connected.

to the end walls and the V-shaped member for imparting sliding movement thereto, a pair of swingable can-agitating plates mounted in said hopper, and means supported on said member engaging and imparting swinging movement to said plates during reciprocation of said member.

8. A shaking mechanism for cans comprising a shaker hopper including a pair of slidable end walls, an inverted V-shaped member mounted in said hopper for reciprocation, means connected to the end walls and the V-shaped member for imparting sliding movement thereto, a pair of swingable can-agitating plates mounted in the hopper at the ends of the member, and a pair of actuating members secured to and movable with the V-shaped member for alternately engaging and swinging the plates during reciprocation of said V-shaped member.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said agitating members include depending contacting plates extending between and below the end walls and the leg portions of said V-shaped member.

10. In a can positioning and feeding machine, a can shaking and agitating mechanism, said can shaking and agitating mechanism comprising a shaker hopper having a pair of slidable end walls, said end walls inclining downwardly and inwardly, an inverted V-shaped member interposed between said end walls ad having downwardly inclined leg portions sloping toward the respective end walls, means for reciprocating the end walls and the V-shaped member, and at least one swing-able plate mounted in said hopper and actuated by said member for agitating cans placed in said hopper.

WILBER W. PRICKETT.

REFERENCES CITED 7 The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

